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Home Office U-turn on cannabis as link to mental illness deepens
Last updated at 02:37am on 28.03.08Youngsters are to be given a stronger warning on the dangers of cannabis following a U-turn in the Home Office.
It is to scrap guidance that cannabis should be avoided by those who already suffer mental health problems.
Instead, young people will be warned that "anyone who uses cannabis could be doing so at a risk to their mental health".
The climbdown over the content of the Government's controversial drugs advice website FRANK was disclosed by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.
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Only last month Mr Coaker told MPs that he "did not accept" that the guidance could lead young people into believing cannabis is safe if they have no existing mental health problems.
The U-turn comes in advance of a key report next month on whether cannabis should be reclassified as a Class B illegal drug.
The Home Office's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will tell the Government whether its experts believe the downgrading of cannabis in January 2004 should be reversed.
Since then those caught with the drug have been unlikely to be arrested.
Senior medical experts have given evidence to the ACMD that the official attitude to the dangers of cannabis has been "complacent".
Professor Louis Appleby, national director for mental health, told the ACMD in February that "the evidence is pointing towards cannabis as a cause of severe mental illness".
Mr Coaker's revision of Government advice was disclosed to Tory MP Graham Brady, who is chairman of the All-Party Group on Cannabis and Children.
The Frank website currently advises youngsters of "increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia.
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"If you've a history of mental health problems, depression, or are experiencing paranoia, then taking this drug is not a good idea," it adds.
Mr Coaker has now written to Mr Brady: "I have looked into the advice being provided by FRANK and want to reassure you that our warnings about cannabis are not confined to saying there is only a risk if you have a predisposition to a mental health problem.
"After reviewing the advice on the website, I have asked the Department of Health (which manages the FRANK website) to review the current advice given on the site with a view of making it clear that anyone who uses cannabis could be doing so at a risk to their mental health."
Last night Mr Brady said: "I am delighted and I hope this shows a new readiness to listen.
"There is mounting evidence about the link between cannabis and mental health problems and we need to make sure that everyone knows about it.
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"It is particularly important we keep up the pressure on the Government in advance of the decision over the reclassification of cannabis which is due within the next few weeks."
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "This is another example of the chaos and confusion that embodies this Government's policy on drugs.
"First their decision to reclassify cannabis sends out the message the drug is OK then their own guidance does the same. Yet another mixed message.
"No wonder the number of under-18s receiving treatment for cannabis has increased 16 per cent since last year."
The FRANK website has been heavily criticised since it was launched five years ago saying that some regarded drugs as an "essential" part of party celebrations and advising cocaine users to show "moderation".
Mary Brett of Europe Against Drugs said: "FRANK is misleading, libertarian and far too soft.
"The evidence about cannabis has been around for years. If the Government is beginning to take notice, that is very good news."
Reader views (6)
Emma,
Your scaring yourself with your nonsense. Alcohol makes a person many times more likely to show signs of a mental illness. Have you ever in your life smoked marijuana? If you have then you would know that the it's very rare for someone to have mental problems with it's use. This is just special interests hyperbole, and it lacks the evidence that they claim.
Second, when you prohibit something you lose all control. Regulate it, like alcohol, and at least it will be harder for youths to get it.
- Tim, St. Louis, MO
Hi Neil
Half the paranoia around is because cannabis is illegal.
Liberalise like Amsterdam, surely there being put up for a Nobel prize must be something to show.
They don't suffer even half the loutish behaviour of the UK.
You dont see kids age of 9 skinning up on a roadside bench
and there graffitti is a dam sight better quality.
Look at how much our government COULD recoup in taxes instead of wasting many millions of our tax payers £££
Yes i am a smoker (neat only)
Did not like visiting dealers with unknown quality, so opted to grow my own supply.
I DO NOT SELL
But would like to grow my own self medication without the fear/ paranoia of being busted for growing my medicine.
Having only to take prescription meds to sleep is much less damaging than having to take 24/7
Under Amsterdams liberalisation they dont have a problem with cannabis
About time our government saw that and brought in funding rather than putting up plenty of smokescreens and spending fortunes
- Barry Sideys, Wisbech, UK
I entirley agree with Niel's comments from London. Whether people/the general public want to admit or accept the truths set out in Niel's comments is another matter.
People like to believe the government have their best interests at heart but this is a dangerously naive belief! It is true that hemp could ultimately save our world. Historically Hemp has been used to make everything from rope, to paper (bibles used to be printed on hemp paper!), to fabric, as fuel etc, it is an incredible resource and environmentally friendly!
- Tinker, London, UK
Neil - you do know that one if the main side effects of excess cannabis use is paranoia don't you?
The sooner this government admit that skunk is screwing with the minds of our kids and have a major crack down on both those who buy and sell it, the sooner we may see a decrease in the number of teenagers brutally slaying each other because all the crap they are smoking makes them think they are invincible!
These kids blood is on the hands of all you bleating liberals that campaigned for legalisation and the end of stop and search policies.
Thanks for making our cities no go areas - I hope you're proud of the extra freedoms you got us - shame we are to terrified to go out.
- Emma, London
The secret of education reform is to make kids fluent at printing the alphabet at age four or five, and of making them fluent at simple addition facts at age seven. Ask for emailed proof.
- Bob Rose, Md (Retired), Jasper, Georgia, U.S.A.
The reason cannabis is illegal is to prevent the cultivation of hemp which would obviate the need for the oil, timber and cotton industries. The government really couldn't give a tinker's cuss for your mental health; they simply need to protect the industries that would be rendered unnecessary if only we were allowed to grow hemp and enjoy its many thousands of uses as fuel, textile, building material, paper, food etc etc. Preventing the use of hemp is behind the proscription of cannabis - not your health.
- Neil, London, UK
